Stores closing at a record pace as the middle class consumer goes from broke to broker

The battered American retail industry took a few more lumps this week, with stores at both ends of the price spectrum preparing to close their doors.

The rapid descent of so many retailers has left shopping malls with hundreds of slots to fill, and the pain could be just beginning. More than 10 percent of U.S. retail space, or nearly 1 billion square feet, may need to be closed,

The blight also is taking a toll on jobs. According to Labor Department figures released on Friday, retailers cut around 30,000 positions in March alone. That was about the same total as in February and marked the worst two-month showing since 2009.

Extrapolating out to the full year, there could be 8,640 store closings in 2017, Buss said. That would be higher than the 2008 peak of about 6,200.

Wait, What??? Everything is HONKY DORY, didn't you know that?? Come on, the Dow is high (as a kite), so everything is wonderful, right? You don't think the gubmint has been lying to us, do you? Naaaaaahhhh... It's a gumdrops butterflies and Unicorns here in the good ol' USA.

I'm told the quality pick up truck trade-ins are on a truck to the US within 36 hours - the exchange rate makes this profitable. This is certainly the case in Ontario. There are no decent used pick ups to be had there.

However, this then depresses the market in the US for domestic used cars.

For smaller provinces in the Maritimes, the trade-in volume plus the extra shipping distance means it is not worthwhile, so decent used trucks are plentiful.

my local mall in MN has many vacant spots. I'm wondering when malls will be converted into multifamily residences, or probably government offices. MN govt has taken over several buildings, including car dealerships and built state of the art offices, transportation depots,

Parent's whealth will be sucked dry by disfunctional, insane costs healthcare system and the conspiracy to jack end of life hospital stay costs to the outer reaches of the galaxy (all approved of course by the health insurance cartel)

They cover all bases. the plan is to totally crush and enslave. But they could never get the guns away from the people? Tactical error? Or part of the plot?

I know literally dozens of Millennials who have no job and simply suck up some living money from their hard-wrking parents every month. Many have moved back in with Mom and Dad and dusck directly off the tit that raised them.

It's interesting to hear them complain, "there are no jobs" when I saw many signs in front of stores and small businesses this weekend advertizing for help, "Now Hiring" signs. The problem these yutes encounter is you have to actually show up on time and WORK to get paid.

I just bought a waterfront lot for C$40k, well already drilled. Building permit is C$500. Mind you, Building permit was C$150 7 years ago. Same ridiculous % inflation of fees for pointless inspections, but at least it's starting from a much lower base.

It took me 3 MONTHS and $10,000 to TEAR DOWN an old crappy house. Local city were such aholes. It had asbestos floor tiles which are landfillable (non friable) STATED in the code as fine but the city wanted me to do some expensive abatement anyway. fuckwads, i hired an expert for $2 grand just to fight that.

50 pages of documentation on disposition of every last piece of any material. for what? nobody will read it.

There IS NO rule of law.

when my parents sold their home, the state DNR said a DRAINAGE "pond" made at time of construction, was now a natural pond and they must restore it, plant aquatic vegetation or pay fines of $3,000

UK - my brother was willed 3 acres with an old 2 bed house & big garage. He sought a permit to pull it down and build a 3 bed house with the same footprint - and fought the denial for 5 years / $8,000 and lost. Six months after selling it, the council granted a permit for a developer to build 11 3 bed rabbit hutches on the same plot.

Buying an old place for the lot and tearing down that 1956 house in order to build a newer bigger place is very very expensive near most cities. My friend moved to Houston and bought an old house I think in Memorial for $800k and is tearing it down to build a new big house. I don't now how much the tear down will cost or how much the new one will cost but I hope she has plenty of $$$$ for her dream house.

Find abandonded foreclosed home. Change locks and move in. File motion for void judgment. Or create an assignment of mortgage (just like the banks!!!!) and assign deed of trust or mortage to your LLC or better, your cousin's LLC. Post no trespassing signs and live rent free.

Create note and mortgage to company X from alleged bank who foreclosed. Use notary stamp made at office supply store.

"Sell" property two more times to two other companies using the land record system in your county.

Once property has changed hands several times then really sell it! Or just live there.

Titles are SO screwed up these days. Need proof? Title company WILL NOT cover you against former owner showing up to claim false, fraudulent foreclosure. It is one of the exceptions.....yes you bought title insurance but it does not cover fraudulent foreclosures...get it?